protect your cars

cypher007

I know this might seem a bit irrelavent in this section but I thought id share my experience:


my Dad died nearly 3 years ago. my step brother got the key to his car when he died and sold it.


according to the officer I spoke to on the 101 number. this is fine and you can take someone's car when they die, because you can say they said you can have it.


now I can see a slight problem with this. that means if someone drops dead in the street someone could take the car keys and sell the car. all they have to do is argue I said they could have it. whos gonna ask the person who just died, there dead.


also the DVLA are not bothered about stolen cars. apparently they are only concerned that the car has a keeper registered, presumably so they can make sure its TAX'ed.

G6JNS

cypher007 wrote: »

I know this might seem a bit irrelavent in this section but I thought id share my experience:


my Dad died nearly 3 years ago. my step brother got the key to his car when he died and sold it.


according to the officer I spoke to on the 101 number. this is fine and you can take someone's car when they die, because you can say they said you can have it.


now I can see a slight problem with this. that means if someone drops dead in the street someone could take the car keys and sell the car. all they have to do is argue I said they could have it. whos gonna ask the person who just died, there dead.


also the DVLA are not bothered about stolen cars. apparently they are only concerned that the car has a keeper registered, presumably so they can make sure its TAX'ed.

The DVLA only records the registered keeper. It has nothing to do with legal ownership.

SeniorSam

The possessions of someone who dies are dealt with by the Executors of that persons Will. Who was that and have you asked them about this mater?

Sam

cypher007

no executor. im now the effective executor, via LOA. long story.

getmore4less

I think you have extrapolated too far, that random strangers can go round picking up the keys of dead people and own the car without there being a criminal offence that would be of interest to the police.

This issue with police and connected parties is well covered on the motoring and relationship boards including connected by finance and parking fines.

SeniorSam

With letters of authority you can therefore take control of your father's estate. Was there a Will in place?

Sam

TonyMMM

You would be within your rights to issue a demand to your step-brother that he repay the money he got for the car to the estate, and if he says no, you (on behalf of the estate) can take court action.

Alternatively, if he is going to benefit from any other assets, you could adjust the distribution to take account of the amount he has already had.

Probably depends on the amounts involved and how far you want to push things.

BobQ

SeniorSam wrote: »

With letters of authority you can therefore take control of your father's estate. Was there a Will in place?

Sam

I assume OP means Letters of Administration which is just another name for a Grant of Administration issued by the Probate Office when there is no will appointing an executor.

cypher007

getmore4less wrote: »

I think you have extrapolated too far, that random strangers can go round picking up the keys of dead people and own the car without there being a criminal offence that would be of interest to the police.

This issue with police and connected parties is well covered on the motoring and relationship boards including connected by finance and parking fines.

Probably. But I think the fact that someone has effectively bought a stolen car, and no authority seems bothered is worrying. I was under the impression when buying a used car that you needed only to make sure you had the v5 to cover ones self. Seems not.

Re the means by which he acquired the car. How can the officer extrapolate from, my Dad went to work in his car died at work then presumabably step brother was handed the keys at the hospital, then took car home to sell. As meaning my Dad, who had little contact for 3 years with him, said if I die sell my car?

TonyMMM

It is never going to be regarded as a stolen car despite perhaps your step-brother exceeding his rights - if you have Letters of Administration and are dealing with the estate you have all the power you need to sort out the issue.

cypher007

Could there be any come back on me as the administrator of the estate? Even though it was sold by the step brother nearly 3 years back.

I only became administrator recently.